Category: News

Two of Tennessee’s largest insurers say they’ve made significant reductions in the number of opioid drugs prescribed.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in February reported a 6 percent decrease in the number of opioid prescriptions per plan member, per month.
Cigna announced recently that it has reduced opioid prescriptions overall by 25 percent – a year earlier than originally planned.
Cigna set the goal of reducing opioid prescriptions by 25 percent by 2019 because that would return consumers’ usage rates to pre-epidemic levels.
BlueCross BlueShield reported the 6 percent reduction for 2017 over 2016 in February.
BlueCross BlueShield corporate communications director Mary Danielson says that it includes a 10 percent reduction in morphine milligram equivalent doses per prescription and a 52 percent reduction in the number of claims for long-acting opioids.

The Coffee County Election Commission will meet on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 4:00 PM in the Election Commission office in the Administrative Plaza at 1329 McArthur Street, Suite 6 in Manchester. The purpose of the meeting will be to certify the early voting machines for the May 1, 2018 primaries and to approve candidate petitions for the August 2, 2018 elections.
Remember early voting for the May 1 primaries runs April 11-26.

Tennessee communities of all sizes can now apply for grants to build or improve dog parks in their areas.
The Boyd Foundation says it is taking applications for a Dog Park Dash Grant of up to $25,000 to build or improve community dog parks. One community will win $100,000 for being the most actively engaged in making Tennessee the most pet-friendly state. available
Over the next three years, the foundation will award $3 million in total grants for the building and enhancement of dog parks.
The deadline for this year’s application is June 20. Communities can apply at dogparkdash.com/apply

The trial of former Coffee County Central High School Red Raider baseball coach Brad Weir was set to begin March 19, 2018 at the Coffee County Courthouse in downtown Manchester. According to District Attorney Craig Northcott, the trial was delayed until April 4 through Thursday, April 5, but now the trial has been delayed again until sometime in June.
The 47-year-old Weir is facing a 16-count indictment after being charged with having sex with a 15-year-old Coffee County student in 2015.
The trial never started on Monday because Weir’s attorney reported to District Attorney General Craig Northcott that Weir was unable to be in court because Weir had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg on March 18.

Sentencing for former co-band director at Tullahoma High School was set for last Monday in Federal Court in Chattanooga. However, the attorney for Martin McFarlane was granted a delay until May 24 before United States District Judge Harry Mattice Jr.
McFarlane was indicted on Aug. 22, 2017 by a federal grand jury on charges of transportation of child pornography. The indictments came about after a search by the FBI and Tullahoma Police at his residence on Castle Walk in Tullahoma for the pornography.
In last week’s court action, McFarlane’s attorney filed a motion asking that he be allowed to remain free on bond and is “attending a 16-week therapy program which began Jan. 29.” In a motion to the court the attorney writes that “this intensive program was recommended to McFarlane as well as that he continue his individual counseling both of which he is doing.” The 16-week therapy program ends May 21.
The motion states that information on all of McFarlane’s counseling will provide unique insight for the court when imposing a sentence “that is sufficient but not greater than necessary” for the case. The attorney stated in the motion to the court that the counseling is to provide “appropriate assistance of counsel to McFarlane.”
Judge Mattice granted the delay and set Thursday May 24 at 1 p.m. (CT) in the federal courthouse in Chattanooga.
Assistant United States Attorney James Brooks is prosecuting the case.

Early Saturday morning on Interstate 24 westbound at mile-marker 118 a motor home caught fire and shut down the interstate for several hours. Traffic was backed up to mile-marker 123 and Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers diverted traffic off the interstate at the Pelham exit and onto Hillsboro Hwy.
The motor-home was driven by a man from Illinois and was complete loss. No injuries were reported.
The THP, Coffee County Deputies and Hillsboro Fire Department responded.

Two Warren County EMS employees were injured Saturday when the ambulance in which they were traveling crashed into another vehicle on Interstate 24 in Nashville.
Police say 57 year-old Henry DeKort of McMinnville was driving the ambulance eastbound on I-24 when the ambulance crashed into a Nissan Altima that was stopped on the shoulder due to an accident that had occurred just moments earlier.
DeKort and his passenger, 23 year-old Savannah Cleek of Palmer, TN were transported to Southern Hills Medical Center, where they were treated and released for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Nissan, 29 year-old Cornelius Hurt, suffered critical injuries and was transported to Vanderbilt Hospital.
The crash happened Saturday morning at around 4:20 near the Haywood Lane exit.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10904 – Manchester conducted a special event at the Manchester Square on Saturday. Citizens that included military and former military walked around the square for a total of 58 times, one lap for every 1,000 veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War. They also heard inspiring speeches. The event was held on National Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day.
Each participant carried an American flag, Vietnam veterans flag or the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag, as they walked around the square.
This event will be held in conjunction with the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) Post 90, American Legion Gold Star Post 78 and the Sequatchie Valley Veterans Honor Guard.

It has come to the attention of WMSR News that an issue occurred at the Coffee County Justice Center on Feb. 15, 2018. It has been confirmed that a weapon (pistol) belonging to a court officer was found inside a restroom used by court officials.
Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott confirmed that this did happen, and he is planning on bringing his concerns about court security before the Coffee County Commission at its next meeting on April 10, 2018.

Circuit Court Clerk Heather Duncan said that she had no first-hand knowledge of this event. She said that she was not clerking that day but was advised that it did take place.
Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves says an internal investigation has been ongoing. He says that a female officer left her weapon in the restroom. He says the investigation should conclude soon and further information will be released at its conclusion.

WMSR News will do a follow-up story when the investigation wraps up and Sheriff Graves releases information regarding this matter.

Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves has issued a warning about a scam making its way around Coffee County and surrounding counties. IRS imposters are threatening arrests, lawsuits, and property seizures unless the victim pays up. Law enforcement says they’re investigating alongside several other agencies across the United States. The scammers are spoofing phone numbers that seem to be local. Recently Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller had his cell number spoofed. Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to indicate to the receiver of a call that the originator of the call is from someone or place other than the true originating person or place.
Sheriff Graves stated, “The scammers say they are attempting to collect money on a balance owed on an account.
The Internal Revenue Service will never demand payment over the telephone. Typical IRS communication comes in the form of U.S. Mail. If you receive a phone call that you suspect is a tax scam, hang up and report it to the US Treasury, Office of Inspector General at 1-800-366-4484. To help avoid becoming the victim of a scam, area law enforcement recommends to never transfer funds through third-party wire or card services.
People in Coffee County have fallen for this scam in the past, so please don’t become the next victim.